Safely Alert - Midget/Spridget Rear Brakes

[HealeyRick]

I have no further info on this, just passing it along:


<https://www.the-vmc.com/>



Dear VMC Representative:

The good folks at CVAR have reported what is apparently *a very
widespread issue to the rear brakes shoes on the Austin Healey Sprites
(square body and bugeye) and the MG Midget cars* which share the same
rear brake shoe. A bad batch of bad "bonded" (not riveted) brake
linings have been reported to delaminate from the shoe causing massive
brake failures on a number of these cars. In one case, failure was
after one session on brand new set of brake shoes.

If you have a way to communicate this to your members who own these
cars, it would probably be a good idea to do so. If it is determined
the brake shoe manufacturer or supplier is at fault, we'll so advise.
But in the meantime, inspection (and replacement?) is highly recommended.

Many of you may not even realize that VMC has maintained a */"Mechanical
Failures List"/* over the years. The above issue has been added to that
list. You can download the updated entire list of known failures here
<https://www.the-vmc.com/hostedfiles/VMC-Mechanical Failures List.pdf>.
It might be well to forward it to the person in charge of your tech
inspections as a reminder of these many known issues, including this
latest addition.

 

[Deleted member 8987]

From that list, I remember this one:
All 1965-69 Chevrolets (except Corvettes)
Source: 1971 DOT Bulletin #2-71
Problem: Left engine mount failure
Action: Inspect and replace.

The original mounts are metal sides bonded to rubber. The GM "fix" was a bracket on the exhaust manifold, and a stainless wire loop with eyelets to fit under the frame mount.
Later mounts had a metal rod extending from upper through lower with a large washer welded on the end.
The issue was, before cable throttles, the mount would fail, the engine would lift out of the mount, the throttle rod would be pulled, pedal on the floor, butterflies wide open.
Not fun.
Dave

 

[Guest]

Thanks but I don't use the brakes. :grin: